Is it actually safe and legal?
Companion apps have real legal obligations now — age checks, telling you you're talking to a bot, letting you delete your data. We check who actually does it, not who just says they do. Every row below is dated and sourced, and where we haven't verified something we say so instead of guessing. These are documented indicators of what we observed, on the date we checked it — not a certification, and not legal advice.
| What it covers | Applies where | In force since |
|---|---|---|
| California's AI companion law Makes sure the app tells you you're talking to an AI, and has a real plan for conversations that turn dark. | California, USA | 2026-01-01 |
| EU AI disclosure rules Same idea, for Europe — you're told when you're talking to a bot, and AI-made images/audio are labeled. | European Union | 2026-08-02 |
| Age verification How they actually check you're an adult — a real check, or just a birthdate typed into a form. | Multiple (US states, UK, EU) | — |
| Deleting your data (EU) Whether "delete my account" actually deletes your data, and how long that takes. | European Union | 2018-05-25 |
Formal names and legal text: California SB-243 (companion chatbots) · EU AI Act Article 50 (transparency) · Age assurance · GDPR data subject rights
Per-platform status is on each review page, next to the score — not buried on its own.